The First Pope - Vatican Articles The First Pope 20/04/2013 by Vatican.com The First Pope There have been many discussions regarding the question of who was the first Pope of the Catholic Church? The majority of discussions regarding this question refer to Saint Peter, with some saying that he was the first Roman Catholic Church Pope, while others oppose that idea. However, according to the Catholic Church, there is no doubt that Peter was first Pope. Even on the list of popes, Saint Peter heads the list, appearing as the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. The bible is normally interpreted differently by different people, but the Catholic Church has remained adament regarding its strong belief that Peter was the first Bishop of Rome and the head of the entire Catholic Church. Peter was Andrew’s brother (the sons of John); they were both fishermen. It was Andrew (Peter’s brother) who introduced him to Jesus Christ, and once they retired from fishing and became disciples of Jesus, they were referred to as “fishers of men”. Peter means “rock”, and his story is extensively discussed in the bible’s New Testament.

There are several scriptures that have been quoted in the bible, serving as proof that Peter was given the authority to be the leader of Catholic Church, by Jesus himself. The first scripture is from John 21: 15-17 which says: “Feed my lambs, feed my lambs, feed my sheep”. According to the Catholics, this was the message that Jesus gave to Peter, giving him the superintendency of all His sheep; sheep being the followers of His Church. Another message appears in the book of Mathew 16:17-20 which says, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” These two scriptures have formed the basis of the fact that indeed Saint Peter was the first Pope of the Catholic Church. Even today, there are structures that were built in the Vatican, Rome, in honor of Saint Peter as the first Pope of Rome. For instance, there are the St. Peter’s Square and St.

Peter’s Basilica; these are among the holiest places in Vatican City, and have attracted millions of people from across the world. St. Peter’s Square is the place where the largest papal audiences meet for Pope’s blessings and masses. There is also St. Peter’s tomb inside St. Peter’s Basilica. This is where St. Peter is believed to have been buried, and it is the official burial place hosting several Popes’ tombs. Therefore, the Catholics believe that St. Peter was the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, and that every Pope is a subsequent follower of St. Peter. Tell us what you think about this topic Pope Francis, the pontiff of firsts, breaks with tradition - CNN.com Pope Francis, the pontiff of firsts, breaks with tradition By Chelsea J. Carter, Hada Messia and Richard Allen Greene, CNN updated 7:55 AM EDT, Thu March 14, 2013 Newly elected Pope Francis speaks to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Wednesday, March 13.

Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the first pontiff from Latin America and will lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. The crowd looks up as Pope Francis comes out onto the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time. A nun reacts as Pope Francis appears on the balcony. Pope Francis addresses the crowd. He was the archbishop of Buenos Aires. People watch the new pope's introduction. People react to the newly elected pope's appearance on the balcony. Pope Francis waves to the crowd. A woman screams as she listens to the announcement that the new pope will be Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina. French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, center, announces the new pope. People under umbrellas react to the news while waiting for the new pope to appear. People crowd St. Peter's Square for the unveiling of the new pope. A boy sits on his father's shoulders in St. Peter's Square. A marching band performs before the introduction of the new pope. People in St. Peter's Square wave Argentina's flag after the new pope was chosen. People stand on a balcony at St. Peter's Square as they wait for the identity of the new pope to be revealed.

A woman in the crowd wipes away tears. Swiss guards enter St. Peter's Square after white smoke came out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, signifying the election of a new pope. People celebrate in St. Peter's Square. The faithful cheer and take pictures in St. Peter's Square. White smoke rises from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. People celebrate as white smoke rises from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel. People in St. Peter's Square cheer and wave flags after the new pope was selected. Bells ring at St. Peter's Basilica after white smoke billowed from the chimney. A nun stands at a window overlooking St. Peter's Square. People shield themselves from the rain in St. Peter's Square after the election of the new pope. HIDE CAPTION New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St.

Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square New pope: Scenes from St. Peter's Square << Pope Francis refused to stand on an elevated platform, a cardinal says Francis will meet with his predecessor on Thursday, Vatican says Jorge Bergoglio, breaks with tradition, asks crowd to pray for him Request is a break with tradition, the Vatican says Editor's note: Read more coverage around the new pope in Spanish at CNNMexico.com Vatican City (CNN) -- Call him Pope Francis , the pontiff of firsts.

When Jorge Bergoglio stepped onto the balcony at the Vatican on Wednesday to reveal himself as the new leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, he made history as the first non-European pope of the modern era, the first from Latin America, the first Jesuit and the first to assume the name Francis. The new pope then quickly made another kind of history, breaking with tradition in his first public act before the 150,000 people packed into St. Peter's Square. Rather than bless the crowd first, he asked them to pray for him. "Let us say this prayer, your prayer for me, in silence," he told the cheering crowd. Pope Francis' path to the papacy People pray after learning of the newly elected Pope Francis at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 13. The former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina has made history as the first pontiff from Latin America. Catholics take part in a Mass in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Thursday, March 14. The faithful celebrated the election of the first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years of church history.

Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart leads celebrations at St Paul's Cathedral in the Australian city on March 14 after the Vatican announcement. Parishioners react to the announcement of the new pope at a midday Mass on March 13 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. People cheer the election of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina as Pope Francis at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires on March 13. Employees of the evening newspaper La Hora in Guatemala City, Guatemala, review printed editions with the announcement of the election of Pope Francis. A young man waves a flag of the Vatican after the announcement of the election of Argentina's cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, as Pope Francis in Guatemala City. Fortunatus Nwachukwu, in white, the Vatican's ambassador to Nicaragua, applauds as he watches a local television station announcing the new pope with others in Managua, Nicaragua. Argentinians celebrate after the announcement that former Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires. The faithful celebrate at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires. A woman is overcome with emotion at the Metropolitan Cathedral after the election.

President Barack Obama answers a question about the new pope after attending the House Republican Conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. People gathered outside the Se Cathedral in in Sao Paulo listen to the announcement of the new pope on March 13. Shelly Guadelupe of Puerto Rico cries at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Florencia Silva, right, of Trumbull, Connecticut, and Valentina Bruner of Peru tune in to a webcast of newly elected Pope Francis at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Parishioners ring the 100-year-old bells in the tower of Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver in honor of the new pope. The faithful listen as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina is announced as the new pope at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez celebrates the midday Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in recognition of the new pope. Catholic Monsignor Michael McPartland gestures his approval outside St. Mary's church after learning of newly elected Pope Francis in Stanley, Falkland Islands.

The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope The world reacts to new pope HIDE CAPTION — Pontifex (@Pontifex) March 13, 2013 Pope Francis' first tweet The willingness by Francis to dispense with tradition was interpreted by a Vatican spokesman as a sign he will be willing to chart his own path in other ways. Pope's name choice 'precedent shattering' "We have a pope who probably upset some people tonight by not following the formula," the Rev. Tom Rosica said. The pontiff also broke with another tradition by refusing to use a platform to elevate himself above the cardinals standing with him as he was introduced to the world as Pope Francis.

"He said I'll stay down here," Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "He met each of us on our own level." Francis, wearing white papal robes, appeared on a rain-soaked night to the throngs shortly after being elected by cardinals in what apparently was the fifth round of voting on the second day of the conclave. "As you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a new Bishop of Rome," he said. "It seems to me that my brother cardinals have chosen one who is from faraway. But here I am. I would like to thank you for your embrace." As pope, Bergoglio takes the helm of a Catholic Church that has been rocked in recent years by sex abuse by priests and claims of corruption and infighting among the church hierarchy. First Latin American pope 'very exciting' Conservative reformer The 76-year-old Bergoglio, who served as the archbishop of Buenos Aires, is the first pope to take the name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, revered among Catholics for his work with the poor. St.

Francis is viewed as a reformer of the church, answering God's call to "repair my church in ruins." The pontiff is considered a straight shooter who calls things as he sees them, and a follower of the church's most social conservative wing. As a cardinal, he clashed with the government of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner over his opposition to gay marriage and free distribution of contraceptives. Latin America is home to 480 million Catholics. By choosing Bergoglio, the cardinals sent a strong message about where the future of the church may lie. According to a profile by CNN Vatican analyst John Allen and published by the National Catholic Reporter, Francis was born in Buenos Aires to an Italian immigrant father. He is known for his simplicity. He chose to live in an apartment rather that the archbishop's palace, passed on a chauffeured limousine, took the bus to work and cooked his own meals, Allen wrote. Francis has a reputation for being a voice for the poor. World reacts Word of the election of Pope Francis, who was not considered a front-runner among analysts, quickly spread around the globe, with everyone from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to U.S. President Barack Obama offering congratulations.

"As the first pope from the Americas, his selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a region that is increasingly shaping our world, and alongside millions of Hispanic Americans, those of us in the United States share the joy of this historic day," Obama said. World reacts to new pope Ban said the new pope shares common goals with the United Nations, from the promotion of peace to social justice. "We also share the conviction that we can only resolve the interconnected challenges of today's world through dialogue," he said. Nowhere was the reaction to Bergoglio's selection as pope more surprising than in Latin America. "I am truly still very surprised ... not just that a Latino pope came out, but that he is an Argentinian from Buenos Aires," the Rev. Eduardo Mangiarotti told CNN en Espanol. Calling Benedict The new pope called his predecessor, Benedict XVI, after he was elected, Rosica said. Francis plans to visit with Benedict on Thursday ahead of an evening Mass with the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, according to the Vatican Francis participated in the conclave that elected Benedict in April 2005. He was widely reported to be a runner-up to Benedict in the election.

The new pontiff will deliver the traditional Angelus blessing from the Vatican on Sunday, Rosica said. Francis will be formally installed as pope at a Mass on Tuesday, according to the Vatican. What's in a name? Bergoglio's selection of the name of Pope Francis is "the most stunning" choice and "precedent shattering," Allen said. "The new pope is sending a signal that this will not be business as usual." The name symbolizes "poverty, humility, simplicity and rebuilding the Catholic Church," Allen said. St. Francis of Assisi was born in 1181 or 1182 the son of a rich Italian cloth merchant, according to the Vatican website. After "a carefree adolescence and youth," Francis joined the military and was taken prisoner. He was freed after becoming ill, and when he returned to Assisi, Italy, a spiritual conversion began, and he abandoned his worldly lifestyle. In a famous episode, Christ on the cross came to life three times in the small Church of St. Damian and told him: "Go, Francis, and repair my Church in ruins," Pope Benedict XVI said, according to Vatican's website.

CNN's Richard Allen Greene and Hada Messia reported from Vatican City, and Chelsea J. Carter wrote and reported from Atlanta. CNN's Dana Ford, Catherine E. Shoichet, Mariano Castillo and Greg Botelho contributed to this report. Part of complete coverage on All Popes | List of All Popes from St. Peter to Francis Complete List of Popes By Coffee Junkie 177k views 266 items tags f t p @ Who was the first pope of the Catholic Church? How many popes have their been? This list of popes in order from first pope, St. Peter, to the current Pope Francis will answer those questions and more! This pope list even comes complete with photos. So which Catholic popes are the most important in all of history? Pope John Paul II was certainly one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. As the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome, it is the pope's duty to spread the gospel of Jesus from the Vatican and interpret God's will so Catholics may enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This list of all popes is ordered chronologically but can also be sorted alphabetically, just click on the name.

Many popes, especially the earlier ones in this Papal timeline, achieved sainthood and are revered to this day. This list will answer the question "can you name every single Pope?" Now you'll be able to impress all of your friends with your indelible pope knowledge, or at least learn a few more things about the past leaders of the Catholic Church. List Photo: user uploaded image G Options B Comments & Embed 1 5 things to know about Pope Francis - CNN.com Pope Francis took his name from St. Francis, a servant to the poor The Argentinian is not the first pope from outside Europe He uses public transportation and refused to elevate himself on a platform above cardinals From the Vatican to Buenos Aires, Catholics worldwide rejoiced when Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio became the new pope. He's the first Jesuit and the first Latin American in modern times to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. But in some ways, he's just a normal guy. Here are five things to know about Pope Francis: 1. His name says a lot about him Unlike other recent pontiffs -- John Paul II, Benedict XVI -- Pope Francis doesn't have a numeral after his name.

That's because he's the first to take the name Francis. Why Francis? MUST WATCH Pope Francis' path to the papacy 01:52 The pope wanted to honor St. Francis of Assisi , an admirer of nature and a servant to the poor and destitute. St. Francis of Assisi was born the son of a rich cloth merchant. But he lived in rags among beggars at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Talk Back: What kind of spiritual leader will draw people back to organized religion? Those close to Pope Francis see similarities between the two men. "Francis of Assisi is ... someone who turned his back on the wealth of his family and the lifestyle he had, and bonded with lepers and the poor," said the Rev. Thomas Rosica, the Vatican's deputy spokesman. "Here's this pope known for his care for AIDS patients and people who are very sick. Who is known for his concern with single mothers whose babies were refused to be baptized by priests in his diocese. "He scolded those priests last year and said, 'How can you turn these people away when they belong to us?

'" Pope Francis, the pontiff of firsts, breaks with tradition 2. He's not actually the first pope from outside Europe Sure, Francis is the first non-European pope in modern times. But back in the 8th century, a Syrian -- Pope St. Gregory III -- led the church from 731 to 741 A.D. We've also had popes from Bethlehem (St. Evaristus, from 97 to 105 A.D.), Jerusalem (Pope Theodore I, from 642 to 649) and modern-day Libya (Saint Victor I, from 189 to 199). Several other Syrians have also been pontiff in the last few millennia. Of course, the majority of popes have been Italian. But with Francis' appointment, the tide could be shifting to outside Europe. 3. He's a pope of the people In some ways, Pope Francis is just a normal guy. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH Look back on the day new pope was picked 02:02 "The new pope is a very humble man," said the Rev. Eduardo Mangiarotti, an Argentine priest.

"He takes public transport every day." He also chose to live in an apartment instead of the archbishop's palace, passed on a chauffeured limousine and cooked his own meals, CNN Vatican analyst John Allen wrote in a profile published by National Catholic Reporter. In his first public act as pontiff, Pope Francis broke with tradition by asking the estimated 150,000 people packed into St. Peter's Square to pray for him, rather than him blessing the crowd first. "He is a very simple man," said Luis R. Zarama, auxiliary bishop of Atlanta. "It's very clear from the way he approached the people and asked them to bless him and pray for him. It's a beautiful sign of closeness and humility." The pontiff broke with another tradition by refusing to use a platform to elevate himself above the cardinals standing with him as he was introduced to the world as Pope Francis. "He said I'll stay down here," said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "He met each of us on our own level." 4.

He comes with a side of controversy Francis opposes same-sex marriage and abortion, which isn't surprising as leader of the socially conservative Catholic church. But as a cardinal, Francis clashed with the government of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner over his opposition to gay marriage and free distribution of contraceptives. His career as a priest in Argentina coincided with the so-called Dirty War -- and some say the church didn't do enough to confront the military dictatorship. As many as 30,000 people died or disappeared during the seven-year period that began with a coup in 1976. Francis, in particular, was accused in a complaint of complicity in the 1976 kidnapping of two liberal Jesuit priests, Allen wrote. Francis denied the charge. "The best evidence that I know of that this was all a lie and a series of salacious attacks was that Amnesty International who investigated that said that was all untrue," said Jim Nicholson, former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. "These were unfair accusations of this fine priest." But Amnesty International said it did not investigate any individual for their specific involvement. "Our research focused on the plight of the disappeared," said Susanna Flood, media director for Amnesty International.

JUST WATCHED Opinion: Francis, open up the church 5. He faces a host of challenges ahead Francis takes the helm of a church that has been rocked in recent years by sex abuse by priests and claims of corruption and infighting among the church hierarchy. He may need to find a way to draw new Catholics into the church where it is in decline, said Phillip M. Thompson, executive director of the Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory University. And he'll also need to find ways of working with shifting viewpoints among Catholics. In the United States, for example, 90% of Catholics are using contraception and 82% think it is morally permissible. "The church has conservative positions on human sexuality, bioethics, etc., but liberal positions on issues such as economic regulation, the death penalty and immigration," Thompson said. "A church divided against itself seems unlikely to renew our political or cultural structures." Was Peter the Apostle the First Pope? Tweet Was Peter the First "Pope"? Roman Catholicism teaches that the apostle Peter was the first "pope" and that there has been an unbroken line of popes since Peter.

From this belief they proclaim that the Roman Catholic Church is the only true church because Peter (and the Catholic Church) were given the "keys", so to speak, to the kingdom of God and no other church has been given those keys. The Catholic Church base this teaching on those well known words that Christ Jesus spoke to Peter in Matthew: Matthew 16:18 ...'And I say unto thee Peter, thou art Peter [petros], and upon this Rock [petra] will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' So who was the "rock" [petra] that Christ was talking about? Was it Peter like the Catholics believe? Or was Christ speaking of Himself? Well, we are going to use the best way of getting to the TRUTH of this verse, by using the Bible to interpret itself. How did the Disciples Interpret This? Would you agree that the best way to interpret these words from Jesus is to find out how the other apostles who heard these very words understood them? After all, if Jesus really did mean that Peter was to be the "head" of the church, then we should find some support for this in the rest of the New Testament writings.

Let us start with the very apostle who these words were directed at; Peter. Who did Peter believe was the "rock" upon which the church was to be built? Speaking of Jesus Christ before the people, Peter said: Acts 4:11-12 ...'This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' Ok, is there any reference at all here from Peter that the church was to be built upon himself? No, he clearly points to Christ Jesus as the "stone" or "rock" that the church is to be built on, with Jesus being the HEAD of it. And notice what else Peter says. He clearly states that NO OTHER NAME HAS BEEN GIVEN AMONGST MEN whereby we can be saved. Only Jesus Christ. And yet the Catholic leaders teach that it is only through the Roman Church that salvation can be secured, due to Jesus giving Peter the "headship" of the church. But Peter himself disagrees with them!

1 Peter 5:1-4 ...'The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.' I love this verse from Peter. We can clearly see that Peter thought himself to be just an "elder" amongst the other elders of the church. Nothing more! And he confirms Christ to be the "chief Shepherd" and only Leader of the Christian church. Also, look at what else he says. No one is to act as a "lord" over God's heritage, ie, no one is to exercise any kind of dominion over the church. A rebuke to Roman Catholicism from the very man they believe to be their leader and first pope! What about the apostle Paul. Who did he proclaim as the "rock"?

Well, in all of Paul's writings in the New Testament, not once does he refer to Peter as any kind of leader of the church. But he does share something interesting: 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 ...'Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.' The Greek word for "rock" here is the same one used by Jesus in Matthew 16, which is "PETRA". And Paul is clearly pointing to Christ Jesus as that "Petra" (Rock). Interestingly, the Old Testament is awash with verses describing our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as a "Rock". See Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalms 18:2; Psalms 28:1.

Paul also states in 1 Corinthians 3:11 that "no other foundation can be laid other than the one already laid which is Christ Jesus." What is a building built upon? It's a FOUNDATION right? So the "Rock" that Jesus said He would build His church on is the very foundation of the church, which is Christ Jesus crucified. Think about it. How can the Christian church be built upon a sinful man, Peter? There is nothing to build upon with Peter, because salvation requires faith in Christ Jesus alone, and Him crucified for our sins. THAT is the "rock", the rock of calvary. There is NO OTHER foundation that the church can be built upon. And if we attempt to build a church on a sinful man, then that church will end up falling, just like Babylon has fallen ! Because she built her foundation upon the sand, rather than the TRUE rock, which is Christ Jesus.

So let's ask the disciples who is the "greatest" among them and if Jesus had given any one of them the position as leader: Luke 22:24 ...'And there was strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.' Now this is AFTER Matthew 16, so surely they should know who is the leader of them, because Jesus had already told them. The problem is, they clearly understood Jesus' words in Matthew 16 to be pointing to Himself, NOT Peter. Which is why they are now arguing as to which one of them should be the leader. And what about Jesus' reply to their arguing? He will surely clear this up and tell them that Peter is now the leader right? Wrong. Jesus confirms no such thing. In fact, He states that WHOEVER wants to be the greatest, needs to be the least. In Galatians 2 we find Paul confirming that he was the apostle to take the gospel to the Gentile world, while Peter was the apostle charged with taking the gospel to the Jews. And Paul states in verse 9 that it was James, Cephas (Peter) and John who ALL "SEEMED" to be pillars of the church.

Making no distinction between them whatsoever. What about the great church meeting in Acts 15? Did Peter stand out as the leader in this great meeting? No, Peter did speak, but if you read the whole of that meeting, you will see that in fact James seemed to be the presiding elder, as he was the one who gave the final decision on the question of circumcision (see Acts 15:19). The Church is Built With "Stones" 1 Peter 2:5-8 ...'Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious?: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.' Can you see the truth contained in these words from Peter himself? All who believe in Jesus Christ and accept that He is the Son of the Living God, become "lively stones", just like Peter did in Matthew 16. We all become "petros" (stones) and are built up into a spiritual house. A house that is built upon the "ROCK" which is Christ Jesus, the ONLY sure foundation for the church. As we have already stated, and this point needs to take root in our minds. The Christian church could NEVER be built upon a sinful man, because it would end up falling. To build the church upon a sinner, would be just like building a house upon the sand, which Jesus told us about in Matthew 7. No, the only sure foundation to build a house upon is the sinless life of Christ Jesus and His sacrifice on Calvary.

THAT is the ONLY rock the church can be safely built upon. And when the storm comes, the house will remain standing. There can only be ONE head of the body (church) and that is Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18) Unbroken Line of Popes? Another teaching the Roman Catholic Church puts forward is the teaching that there has been an unbroken line of Popes since Peter. But there is a problem with this teaching also. First, no Christians for FOUR CENTURIES after the time of Christ believed that Peter was the leader of the church. This teaching wasn't accepted until around A.D.445 during the reign of Pope Leo I. It was only during this time that the Catholic Church needed to find some Biblical support for Papal supremacy. The other problem with this teaching of an unbroken line is that in A.D.1045, Pope Benedict IX was ran out of office because of his unworthiness, with Silvester III taking his place. When Benedict IX returned, he sold the Papal throne to Gregory VI, but still refused to give up his own claim to the throne. So at this time, all three men claimed to be the legitimate Pope!

Then in 1046, the German Emperor Henry III settled it by deposing all three Popes and appointing a fourth, Clement II. So history hardly supports this "unbroken line" of Popes. So Who Was the First Pope? Acts 8:9-22 ...'But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.' The Roman Catholic Church tell their followers that they can PURCHASE salvation with money through the doctrine of indulgences! Simon Magus was a Pagan who blended his Pagan ways with Christianity.

Yes, he asked Peter to pray for him so that none of the bad things Peter said would happen to him would come upon him. But it is widely accepted by Christian historians that Simon Magus did not leave his Pagan ways behind. Instead he blended them into his new "Christian" beliefs. Which is exactly what the Roman Catholic Church is, a blending of Paganism and Christianity. Now what did Simon Magus try to do? He tried to PURCHASE the gift of God with money, which the apostle Peter strongly rebuked. And what has the Roman Catholic Church done all throughout history and still does today? They offer salvation to those who are willing to BUY IT through indulgences! The very thing that Simon Magus wanted to do. You will notice from the verses in Acts 8 that Simon Magus was not just a Pagan who practiced sorcery. He was in fact the LEADER of the Pagan "church" and had many followers who thought that he was ordained of God!

"The author, or first representative of this baptized heathenism, according to the uniform testimony of Christian antiquity, is Simon Magus, who unquestionably adulterated Christianity with pagan ideas and practices, and gave himself out, in a pantheistic style for an emanation of God." (Schaff's History of the Church, Apostolic Christianity, Vol. 2, p. 566) And where did Simon Magus end up going? When Justin Martyr wrote his Apology [152 A.D.], the sect of the Simonians appears to have been formidable, for he speaks four times of their founder, Simon; and we need not doubt that he identified him with the Simon of Acts 8.

He states that he was a Samaritan, adding that his birthplace was a village called Gitta; he describes him as a formidable magician, and tells that he came to ROME in the days of Claudius Caesar (45 A.D.), and made such an impression by his magical powers, THAT HE WAS HONORED AS A GOD, a statue being erected to him on the Tiber, between the two bridges, bearing the inscription 'Simoni deo Sancto' (the holy god Simon) (Dictionary of Christian Biography, Vol. 4, p. 682). Simon Magus went to Rome and setup his new "church" there. An amalgamation of Paganism and Christianity! And yet the apostle Peter did not go to Rome. It was Paul who was the apostle to the Romans! So who was the first pope? It was Simon Magus, the Pagan sorcerer! Conclusion If the Roman Catholic teaching of Peter being assigned as the first Pope in Matthew 16 was true, then the rest of the New Testament would clearly support this fact. But what we have instead is the complete opposite.

None of the other apostles recognized Peter as the leader, and they all pointed to Christ Jesus as that "rock" upon which the church was to be built. So no, Peter was NOT the first "pope" or leader of the Christian church. But Simon Magus, the leader of the Pagan Church at that time fits perfectly as being the one who brought Paganism and Christianity together, which resulted in the Roman Catholic Church. Jesus Christ is the ONLY "Rock" on which the entire church structure rests, for without Him there would be no church at all. Faith in Him as the Son of God makes it possible for us also to become sons of God (John 1:12). And the realization and acceptance that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, as Peter emphatically affirmed upon this occasion, is the "key" to the door of salvation. But it is merely incidental, not fundamental, that Peter was the first to recognize and declare his faith, which, upon this occasion, he did as spokesman for all the disciples.

John 14:5 ...'I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME.' On Christ the solid Rock I stand, ALL OTHER GROUND is sinking sand! Popes of the Roman Catholic Church - Popes - Catholic Life - Catholic Online Popes of the Roman Catholic Church Popes of the Roman Catholic Church Learn More The Vacancy of the Holy See (Papal Interregnum) According to Catholic tradition, Jesus founded the papacy in the first century, when he chose St. Peter, the leader of the apostles, to be his earthly representative. "Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church," he states in chapter 16 of Matthew. "I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." Those words, which now circle the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, serve as the biblical mandate for the papacy. All popes are considered symbolic descendants of Peter and are thought to hold "Peter's Chair" Since then, there have been more than 260 occupants of the papal office.

The institution has endured through the defining moments of European history, including the split of the Roman Empire, the bloodbath of the crusades and the rise of the Italian Renaissance. More recently, popes have struggled to reconcile the strict traditions of doctrinaire Catholicism with the realities of modern life, including defending firm stances against abortion and the death penalty. Here, a short history of some of the most notable occupants of "St. Peter's Chair." Pope

Question: Can you name the first Pope?
Answer: St. Peter